James H’s ROTDC @ Soto

Great times to celebrate James’s ROTD and Nina’s birthday week! Chef Andy treated us like royalty, offering us a very nice bottle of junmai daiginjo sake. If you never had it before, you should definitely try it – smooth and refreshing and perfect with sushi.
Great to see everyone and eat delicious food. Soto is even better with friends. Congratulations James!

James, thanks you for inviting us to the best ROTDC ever!!! Truthfully! One of my very fav restaurants in all of Austin and some of my favorite people to dine with! 10,000 stars!
James H (and his lovely wife Nina) really set the tone for the evening by generously offering three orders of Fire Salmon to the table for all of us to sample. Quite an impressive sight, especially in the dimly lit, intimate private dining area at the back! The room was literally smoking hot!
Always a great time and dining perfection at Soto! I never thought any experience could top the previous one, but add about a dozen Unilocalers and it can actually happen. Lots of diverse conversations flowing, drinks being delivered, and sooooo much food! Each person (couple) ordered individual dishes; however, the feast quickly turned into family-​style dining as everyone was so eager to share — we Unilocal folks are kind like that. Spicy and Truffled orders of Edamame (thanks again to James and Nina!), Spicy Avocado Salad, Salmon Kama, several orders of Beef Negima, Assorted Sushi and Sashimi, Shumai, Rolls, etc… and then desserts — compliments of Chef Andy!
Chef is always the host with the most (can’t help but feel extra special when he walks out from behind the sushi bar to greet my husband and I with a hug when we arrive-​I know we’re not the only ones-​he is THAT nice)! This time he went well above and beyond any expectations I think any of us could have ever had! As if desserts were not already too kind of a gesture, he personally came into the room to deliver a premium entire bottle of chilled sake so that we could toast the perfect ending to the most wonderful adventure… no I will not simply call it dinner… because it was so much more!!! Oh, and hey James, we WILL indulge in the most spectacular Uni next time! Be certain — I will call ahead and it will be my treat! I OWE YOU! Xx!

This is my first ROTDC ever and I have to admit that I had the BEST time ever! First off, it’s Soto (the best sushi place in ALL of Austin) so you know the food is going to be top notch. The only thing that could top Soto is Soto with such a large array of friends. If I had to pick my favorite thing about this event it would have to be the people. Thank you James for hosting a wonderful evening.

It was a real honor to have the opportunity to host an event at Soto which has quickly become THE sushi destination in these parts for those in the know. With a dinner party made of my favorite Unilocal EiItes, +1’s, and even Elite offspring, it became a night to remember.
This really was a fun group of people to hang out with, the whole evening just flew by. Even though I’d first met Amy D (officially Soto’s very first patron) and her husband Jesse D years and years ago at a Unilocal Finn and Porter event, it was great getting to know them better last night in a small group setting. Edison C was the only Unilocaler I hadn’t met before last evening and I’m pretty sure the only person I’ve met that’s quadruple Gold Elite. Props to Alicia K for bringing her two sons to the event and for raising kids that can appreciate dinners like these. And I was so happy when Kelly S arrived and I learned that she’s on KGSR’s on Saturday nights and Thursday mornings. I’ll totally be tuning in to hear her introducing songs and giving tips on all the hot new places in town to visit.
I also got to chat with Errol M again which is always fun and interesting. Though after hearing the restaurant was out of the non-​California uni, he jokingly stated that he was responsible for eating the remaining supply on his most recent visit a few days ago. And of course, I have to thank Dawn H and Rob M, who without their suggestion to come here on a double-​date back in July, this whole event wouldn’t have happened.
The food too of course did not disappoint. Everything I had, whether from the sake social menu or dinner menu was fresh, delicious, and gorgeously presented. The spicy scallop maki was extraordinary.
And it would be hard to top the generosity and hospitality of Chef Andy who came by to see us several times throughout the evening and hooked the table up with top shelf sake (Wakatake Daiginjo), enough for a couple of rounds for everyone. Wow — just wow! He also gave the table green tea tiramisu and red bean crème brûlée with ice cream for dessert and then brought out a floating candle to celebrate my wife Nina H’s birthday. Just a perfect way to cap the ROTDC.

Wow big props to James H for having one stellar ROTDC! Also a huge thanks to Chef Andy who made our sushi bellies very happy.
James reserved the fancy moon room for his ROTDC. I love this semi private room with ample space for a group. James and Nina kicked off the evening proper with the Soto’s famous fire salmon! Delicate cuts of salmon dressed with edible flowers strung over a short lived flame always makes for an enjoyable sushi experience. The party started just in time for social sake hour and Jesse D and I ordered up some of our favorite nigiri. We also ordered the jalapeño hamachi and Soto sashimi roll which never disappoint.
Chef Andy generously treated our group to some of the best sake I have tasted (Wakatake Daiginjo) and desserts! If you haven’t tried their take on tiramisu you are missing out!
It was great catching up with Kelly S, Dawn H, Alicia K, Errol M and I enjoyed getting to know Rob M, Nina H, James H and Edison C better.

The coolest things about a James H ROTDC at Soto:
1. When you know what «ROTDC» stands for.
2. When it’s one of your favorite restaurants anyway.
3. When you’re in the Moon Room.
4. When the heat from Nina H’s three Flaming Salmons for the table subsides and the temperature returns to normal.
5. When you watch Alicia K’s kids eat stuff you didn’t know existed until you were 27.
6. When you know Chef Andy has read all the Soto reviews from everyone in the room.
7. When Kelly S shows up.
8. When you fake a group saké toast with a shot glass of water and feel pretty damn proud of yourself.
9. When you’ve spent the least amount ever at Soto but have completely pigged out.
10. When you look around the table slowly and think, «Life is good.»